I believe in consistency. My family says that I am boring. Where is my sense of adventure they ask. I am always up for an adventure (I really would love to go race car driving and sky diving) but when it comes to my meals I eat what I know makes me feel good and I stay on a straight path. I eat 3 meals a day and only when I am hungry will I grab a healthy snack. You won’t see me eating chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast or milkshakes at lunch. Nor will I eat fettuccine alfredo for dinner or eggplant parmigiana.
I always eat breakfast and usually before I start my workout around 8am. But, before I do I have a bottle (16.9 oz) as I take my multivitamins and other nutritional supplements. This is like watering a plant, it helps to revive me. I then will have a cup off coffee with a touch of soy milk (it froths great in the mini frother from nespresso) and it makes me happy! My breakfast is either 2 hard boiled egg whites and a few gg bran crackers. Now I know that this is not a glamorous breakfast but it is easy and I don’t have to take a lot of time making it and it and it starts my day off strong.
Lunch is around 1pm ish and if I am home I will make a salad with italian tuna or leftover salmon (from dinner the nite before) and add a bunch of spinach and some garbanzo beans and hearts of palm and of course avocado! I will also add any leftover veggies from the nite before (it’s an easy way to add to my lunch!). Many times when my kids and their friends are over they will ask me for my salad and I will go crazy and add more veggies, including black olives, edamame, goat cheese, dried dates, nuts and seeds, corn, beets and asparagus. I call it the kitchen sink salad! I use fresh lemon and balsamic vinegar for the dressing. Now, If I am feeling ultra lazy and home alone for lunch I will have a serving of greek non-fat plain yogurt with some berries and my homemade granola.
Since I eat a hearty lunch if I feel a bit hungry for a snack it is typically a cut apple or banana and a few raw almonds or cashews. I also like an occasional protein bar (I am loving RX bars) or my homemade energy bites (click here for a recipe) as I find that this keeps me feeling satisfied til dinner time.
I love to prepare dinner for myself and my family. My easy go-to is salmon teriyaki with a one pan-roasted vegetable dish. I usually make a side of quinoa and the meal is complete. Click here for the easiest salmon recipe and click here for the one pan veggie dish. When you cook the quinoa make as directed and it’s easy!
Sweets are fruits- I love a juicy orange or fresh mango for dessert after dinner.
I believe in eating real food and practicing what I preach. But, on few occasions, the frozen chocolate chip cookie or brownie that I keep in my freezer (for emergencies only) pops into my mouth!